The Kia Hybrid Car Range

A hybrid car has two powertrains rather than one. Whereas a conventional car is powered by an internal combustion engine and an electric car is powered by a battery/electric motor, a hybrid car is powered by a combination of both. It is able to switch between both powertrains or make them work together to power the car forward with maximum efficiency. As a result, fuel efficiency is greatly improved particularly in stop-and-start city driving.

For further information, view our detailed Hybrid car information page explaining what a hybrid car is.

A plug-in hybrid car (PHEV) works in the same way as a standard hybrid car, except that it has a larger battery and gives you the option of charging it from an electric outlet. When the electric range is depleted, the car automatically switches to conventional hybrid mode. As 73% of commuters in Australia travel less than 20 km^[A] to work each day this means that most people can complete their daily commute on pure electric power.

Electric cars work by using an electric motor, which gets it’s power from a rechargeable battery pack instead of a conventional internal combustion engine (ICE). Then, the electric vehicle is plugged into a charging station or point, the electricity for which can be sourced from a power grid.

An electric car is just like any other car, except it uses a battery to drive a powerful electric motor. Instead of refuelling at a petrol station, you simply recharge at home (optional charger available at additional cost), or at one of the growing number of paid public charge points.

Dedicated charging stations or ports are available across the country. However, there are different levels of chargers (Level 1, 2 and 3), which charge your car at different speeds and use different kWhs. The battery power and the how long electric cars travel in a single range, vary greatly by vehicle.

The Electric Vehicle Council of Australia displays a map, which showcases all the active charging stations in the country.

A hybrid (HEV) combines a petrol engine with an electric motor and recharges its own battery automatically through regenerative braking; no plugging in required. A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) works a similar way, but adds a larger battery you can also charge from a power outlet, giving you the flexibility of topping up your electric-only driving range as needed.

Kia offers hybrid versions of the Sportage, Sorento and Carnival, and a plug-in hybrid version of the Sorento.

Two. And one of them can also plug in. Both are the Sorento. One self-charging, one plug-in. Three rows, seven seats, and your choice of how you want to drive – the hybrid in FWD or AWD, or the plug-in hybrid in AWD.

If you need to seat more than 7, consider the Carnival Hybrid.

If you want 7 seats but a full EV instead, consider the Kia EV9 all-electric large SUV.

The Sportage Hybrid, Sorento Hybrid and Carnival Hybrid are all self-charging. Their batteries replenish automatically as you drive, primarily through regenerative braking.

The Sorento Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV) is different; it has a larger battery you can charge from a standard power outlet for extended electric-only driving range.

It depends on who's in the car and where you're going. The Sportage Hybrid is built for drivers who want one car to cover everything: the daily commute, the weekend away, and whatever the calendar throws in between. It's a mid-size SUV that feels at home in the city, with suspension tuned specifically for Australian roads.

Growing families who need seven seats will find everything they need in the Sorento Hybrid – a large SUV available in FWD or AWD, with the efficiency of a hybrid and room for the whole family. If you regularly charge at home or work, the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid goes further on less, with a combined efficiency of 1.6L/100km.

For larger households, the Carnival Hybrid seats eight, and does it more efficiently than you might expect. In urban driving it uses just 4.2L/100km. That's a lot of people, moving very efficiently.

Turbo engines have a reputation for wanting expensive fuel. Most Kia hybrids don't. The 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine in the Sportage Hybrid, Sorento Hybrid and Carnival Hybrid runs on regular unleaded (91 octane, E10 compatible), available at any petrol station across Australia. The Sorento Plug-in Hybrid is the exception and requires RON 95 premium unleaded.